Start-up brings on-demand delivery to cannabis vertical
Massachusetts cannabis consumers no longer have to leave the couch.
Lantern, the first on-demand cannabis e-commerce delivery platform in Massachusetts, is sparking up. Initially, Lantern is bringing online ordering and on-demand delivery of cannabis to certified medical cannabis patients in Greater Boston. The company plans to expand to providing on-demand delivery of recreational cannabis (recreational cannabis sales are legal in Massachusetts, but currently suspended due to COVID-19).
Lantern works with established medical cannabis dispensaries to bring their full inventories online. The company says it intends to help patients discover product options through simple navigation, step-by-step questionnaires, and clearly presented testing data.
Customers can set up a Lantern account by visiting its website and entering a state-issued medical cannabis prescription number, which grants access to the product offerings of licensed dispensaries in the customer's area as well as delivery scheduling. Over time, the platform will offer increasingly personalized product suggestions based on each individual's preferences. Delivery is handled by trained dispensary personnel who accept debit cards or cash and require a state-issued medical marijuana card and photo ID at the point of delivery.
Orders made on Lantern will initially be transacted and delivered by Revolutionary Clinics, a licensed medical dispensary in Massachusetts. Discussions are underway with additional licensed dispensaries, as Lantern builds its network of partners so it can serve additional customers throughout Greater Boston, Massachusetts, and nationwide.
Lantern was developed by the team behind Boston-based alcohol e-commerce marketplace Drizly, but is its own separate entity and will operate independently. The company is led by president Meredith Mahoney, who founded and led several portfolio brands for Wayfair before joining omnichannel beauty retailer Follain as president.
"Lantern is uniquely equipped to bring the long-sought discretion and convenience of online ordering and home delivery of cannabis to patients in Massachusetts, and to evolve as regulations evolve," said Mahoney. "We launch today with an intuitive digital experience focused on delivering high-quality products at the best prices within an hour. We're gearing up for recreational e-commerce and delivery as well, and we'll be there to help you find what products are right for you, delivered to your door quickly and safely, once regulations are in place."